As SADC Chair, I officially opened the 2025 SADC Transfrontier Conservation Area Summit in Harare, marking 25 years of regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and ecotourism.

Our region now proudly hosts 13 functional Transfrontier Conservation Areas, with 5 more in development—spanning terrestrial and marine ecosystems and covering 7% of SADC’s total surface area.

I urged Member States to continue fostering socio-ecological and economic connectivity, and to strike a harmonious balance between nature and development. Communities must benefit from conservation, and we must ensure the full inclusion of youth and women.

I also shared Zimbabwe’s progress in launching new carbon market regulations and the world’s first blockchain-based National Carbon Registry—a bold step towards a greener, more sustainable future.